Oak Park leaders say pool and arena will be demolished for community center; council discusses phasing but gives no reprieve

City officials told the Oak Park City Council on Tuesday that the outdoor pool, the ice arena and several ancillary facilities are slated for demolition this year to make way for the new community center under the Elevate Oak Park program, a decision the city says followed more than a year of town halls and resident input.

City Manager Eric Tongate said the city has spent more than $323,000 in the last five years just on repairs to open the outdoor pool each season, including $170,000 in a single year. He said the pool was originally built in the late 1950s and that repeated repairs had become impractical.

“So every year, we're having to piece this thing together with, you know, with gum and, you know, tape and everything we can find,” Tongate said. He said the city could attempt to phase the pool into the community center construction to preserve another season, but that option is unlikely and carries financial risk: “You're taking a risk, council members, if you want to add another season to the pool because for all I know, it's gonna be another 170,000 off season to get that thing started again.”

Deputy City Manager Dave DeCoster said phasing that preserves another season “would be ideal” only if it can be done without delaying the overall schedule. He told council he could research the possibility and report back.

Residents addressed the council during the public comment period. Amy Janquist, who said she has worked in nonprofit management and fundraising, said she found ballot language on the pool confusing and urged the city to consider alternatives and partnerships with nearby communities and private facilities. “There is no outdoor pool within 30 miles that's accessible to our residents,” Janquist said, adding concerns about cost and access to indoor pools in private clubs.

Cheryl Weiss, who said she has been an Oak Park resident 57 years, urged the council to think creatively about preserving amenities and noted that the city's miniature golf course is underutilized and could be better promoted or relocated. “We have people that want it. They don't know we have it. That's a problem,” Weiss said.

Council members emphasized that residents prioritized an indoor, year-round pool in community planning and that the new community center is intended to deliver that amenity. Councilmembers also cited climate change, air quality and more severe storms as additional reasons for investing in an indoor facility.

Tongate and staff said demolition is expected late fall or over the winter and that some preparatory foundation work for the community center may begin in 2026. The city issued $10 million in bonds this week to cover predevelopment and demolition work; council members stressed they would not borrow the full amount now to avoid interest costs on unused proceeds.

Council did not vote to alter the demolition schedule. Staff committed to investigating whether phasing could preserve another season and to return with information if feasible.